American History and Genealogy Project

The Voyage of the Archangel

On a pleasant day in May, 1605, more
than three centuries ago, a white-winged ship came to anchor off
the rocky shores of the island now known as Monhegan. It was the
Archangel, commanded by George Weymouth, forty-five days out
from England.

Fuel and water being scarce upon the
ship, Weymouth, with several of his men, went on shore to
procure these necessaries. "Mayhap we shall see some of the
savage people whom others have seen on these shores,'' said one
of the men as they neared the coast. No trace of human
habitation could be seen. Where now may be found the gray
fish-houses, piles of lobster-traps, neat cottages, and the
great light-house standing over all like a lone sentinel which
never sleeps, then were only great, gray rocks half hidden
beneath riotous masses of wild rose and yew, and an unbroken
stretch of primeval forest.

When the Englishmen had obtained wood
and water sufficient for their needs, they made their way toward
the shore. Suddenly one of them stopped near a pile of loose
stones. "What have we here?" he cried. "Look! these are the
ashes and charred remains of a fire. Those who built it must
have fled at our approach.''

All eyes eagerly scanned the landscape,
but no unfamiliar face or form appeared. Amid the screaming of
seagulls, they planted a cross, naming the island St. George,
then rowed back to the Archangel.

The Archangel remained at her anchorage
that night, and on the following day, because the vessel ''rode
too much open to the sea and winds,'' Weymouth weighed anchor
and brought his vessel to the other islands nearer the mainland
in the direction of the mountains.

With great interest Weymouth and his
crew landed upon one of the islands (probably what is now known
as Allen's Island, in St. Georges Harbor.) Very soon a discovery
was made by the mate, Thomas Cam, which brought all around him.
"Here has been a fire!" he exclaimed, "and see the great shells
lying all about! " Pieces of large shells and bones littered the
ground; evidently a feast had been held there not long ago. A
careful search, however, failed to reveal any further trace of
human beings.

The next week furnished plenty of work;
the building of the shallop went speedily forward. The
neighboring islands were explored. On the twenty-ninth of May,
the shallop was finished and, leaving fourteen men on the
Archangel, Captain Weymouth, with, thirteen others, started on
an exploring expedition inland.

"There does not seem to be much treasure
on these islands," said Thomas Cam to one of his comrades, Owen
Griffith, as they gazed from the side of the ship over the
island dotted expanse of water which Weymouth, because of the
season, had called Pentecost Harbor.

"Neither of treasure nor of people have
I had a sight,'' replied the man Griffith, "and yet the fires
would show the land to be inhabited. Perhaps the sight of our
goodly ship has filled them with fear, so that they flee from
us."

"Tis a noble land in which the king may
build a powerful empire," said the other, "and mightily enrich
himself in so doing." Suddenly he stopped, shading his eyes with
his hand. "Ha, Master Griffith," he cried, "at least one wish is
about to be gratified; yonder come three canoes filled with
savages!"

With excited shouts the crew lined the
side of the vessel, watching eagerly while the savages landed on
an island opposite, staring in wonder at the strange vision of
the white-sailed ship and the white-faced, bearded men who stood
upon its deck. Presently, in answer to the inviting gestures of
the white man, a canoe in which were three natives was paddled
boldly toward the ship. As they came alongside one raised an oar
and pointed fiercely toward the open sea, at the same time
exclaiming loudly in a harsh, unknown tongue.

"They do not seem to like our company,"
said the mate, "tis a pity we can not speak their language. Show
them some knives and glasses and the rings and other trinkets we
have with us."

These were quickly brought and displayed
to the delighted eyes of the natives who brought their frail
canoe still nearer to see these wonderful toys at closer range.
It was now but an easy step to induce the three to climb over
the side of the Archangel. Sounds of wonder and delight burst
from them as they wandered freely about the vessel, one even
venturing below. Food was offered them and they gladly ate the
cooked, but the raw disgusted them. They hung joyously over a
collection of combs, kettles and armor, but the sight and sound
of the matchlocks filled them with unmeasured fear. It was with equal surprise and pleasure that the Englishmen
gazed at their strange visitors, representatives of this vast
New World. They were well formed, of medium build, bodies
painted black, faces red or blue and eyebrows white, and clothed
in mantles and moccasins of deerskin. By signs the white men
told them that they wished to trade knives and trinkets for
furs, which seemed to satisfy the savages and with many a
backward glance they at last took their departure.

About ten o'clock the shallop bearing
Capt. Weymouth returned. He bore the news of the discovery of a
great river and the stories which each party had to relate were
heard with eager interest.

"Tomorrow," said Capt. Weymouth, "We
will go on shore and trade. Let us do nothing to frighten these
savages who seem peaceable enough."

This plan of trade was carried out. The
natives were delighted to exchange beaver and otter skins for
worthless trinkets, and now wholly without fear crowded closely
about the white strangers. Presents were brought of tobacco, of
which these natives cultivated small quantities and smoked it in
pipes made of lobster claws.

"Let us show them some wonders,'' said
Weymouth, and, with the point of his sword previously touched by
a magnet, he picked up a knife holding it high in the air. The
wonder of the savages was intense. Presently one of the boldest
seized the knife and drew it away, then hastily dropped it as if
fearful of coming to harm. Holding the sword point close,
Weymouth caused the knife to turn in different directions; the
same bold native tried to imitate the act with his bone-headed
dart, but failure of course resulted.

"Let us try to get some of them to go
back to the ship with us," said the mate to Weymouth. "Those who
came yesterday went away much pleased and others will doubtless
hold it a high honor."

The captain agreed and with very little
urging two of the natives entered the shallop and the crew
returned to the Archangel. As they sprang upon the deck one of
the ship's dogs ran forward sniffing and barking furiously. With
every sign of fear, the natives turned and seemed about to fling
themselves into the sea.

"Tie those dogs!" roared Weymouth, then
with kind tones and gestures reassured his dusky guests until
their confidence returned and they wandered as freely over the
ship as the visitors of the day before. Of the food offered
them, peas seemed to please them most. By signs they expressed a
wish to carry some back to their friends, and a quantity was
given them in a metal dish which they returned later with great
care. At their departure others came and finally three were
persuaded to remain on board all night, one of the white men
being left on shore as a sort of guarantee of good faith,
although the trust of the Indians was so great that none was
needed.

That night Weymouth stood in' the soft
June starlight and gazed on the dark forms of the sleeping
savages as they lay on the deck covered with an old sail. "How
great would be the pleasure of the king and certain noble gentry
of England to behold these strange people," he thought. "They
are ever interested in tales of this great New World.'' Then of
a sudden he smote his palms softly together and turned sharply
to Thomas Cam who stood near. "Cam!'' he said, "what say ye,
shall we take some of these knaves with us when the Archangel
turns her prow toward England? What easier task, see how the
poor fools trust us!" and he gave a half contemptuous laugh.

The mate whistled softly in his beard. "Twould
surely bring us great notice and reward," he said at last. ''His
majesty ever listens eagerly to adventurers from over seas, and
'twere easy enough to be done; yet," he spoke hesitatingly, ''it
seems but a poor return and not half honorable."

"What know they of honor," cried
Weymouth impatiently, "they are but beasts. Canst talk of honor
with a dog! Be sensible, man, and think of the great good we may
give our countrymen by thus turning their eyes to this new
land." "Tis doubtless as you say," replied Cam, beginning to yield,
"yet methinks even a dog knows gratitude and will repay
treachery. However, if you wish it, we are bound to obey your
commands, and perchance no harm will come of it." At this point one of the savages stirred in his sleep and tossed
a dusky arm above his head.

"Tis as if he held a weapon ready to
strike!" muttered Cam drawing back a step.

"Away with such fears!" cried Weymouth
striking his comrade a resounding blow between the shoulders.
"What spirit is this for discoverers in unknown worlds! Come,
let us discuss the plan."

A week later the Archangel had completed
her work and had shipped a large quantity of furs. The thoughts
of all now turned homeward. One afternoon two canoes with three
Indians visited the ship, while two other savages remained on
the shore of a nearby island seated by a fire built on the
rocks.

"This is our chance," said Weymouth to
his men. "Get some of them to go below and do not allow them to
come back on deck."

Two painted faces at that moment
appeared over the side of the vessel. Griffith walked up to them
with a pleasant smile. "Come below with me," he said, "I have
something new to show you." The simple natives understood his
signs but not his words and readily followed him below. The
others would not leave their canoes. A plate of peas was passed
down to them which they received with exclamations of pleasure
and hurried to the island to share the dainty with their
relatives. The peas were rapidly eaten and a young savage,
seizing a pewter plate, leaped into a canoe and returned to the
ship, joining the others below where he found himself a
prisoner. Three other savages were now held captive on the
Archangel. As this number did not satisfy Weymouth, the shallop
with eight men was sent to the shore as if to trade.

At their approach three of the natives
retired to the woods, but the other two advanced and received
the proffered gifts of some combs and another plate of their
favorite eatable. All made their way over the rocks and seaweed
and sat down around the fire.

Never had the white men been more
courteous and peaceful in their behavior; never had the simple
natives showed more fully their gratitude and trust. Then as
suddenly as the tiger springs upon its prey did the treacherous
Europeans fall upon their unsuspecting hosts. As fear rushed in
to take the place of confidence, it required the strength of all
the eight to hold the slippery, struggling bodies of their
captives and bear them to the boat.

In high spirits Weymouth greeted the
return of the crew. "This will be enough," he said. "Take them
below with their comrades. I have just learned that one of them
is a special prize, a chieftain named Nahanada. Now we will go
home.'' With despairing hearts these victims of Weymouth's treachery
were dragged from the deck of the Archangel never expecting to
behold their native shores again. How little could they imagine
the strange life which for the next three years was to be
theirs; to be transplanted to a foreign land and gazed at by the
curious eyes of a great metropolis; then, when the new tongue
was mastered, to relate to the wondering ear of royalty the
story of a mighty land with its unbounded riches of sea and
shore; and finally to be restored to their own people to act as
guides to future voyagers! Note. - Some authorities hold that the mountains seen by
Weymouth, or Waymouth, as his name is often spelled, were the
White Mountains and that the harbor into which he sailed was
Boothbay and the river, the Kennebec. The White Mountains,
however, are seen from Monhegan only under the most favorable
conditions. There seems little doubt that the mountains were the
Camden Hills, and the islands which the Weymouth party explored
after leaving Monhegan were the islands in George's Harbor, near
Thomaston, including Allen's and Burnt Island.

In July, 1905, the Maine Historical
Society celebrated the tercentenary of Weymouth's voyage, and on
Allen's Island erected and dedicated a memorial cross.

Could Weymouth have foreseen the acts of
bitter revenge which were to be heaped upon the heads of the
innocent as well as the guilty as the result of this unfriendly
deed, perhaps he would have repented and released his captives
to return to their forest homes. But repentance was now too
late, the Archangel was swiftly cleaving her way through the
blue waters toward the longed for shores of old England.

Thus was committed, near the magnificent
harbor of St. Georges, the deed which was to cause the Indians
to regard all Englishmen with hatred and distrust; and was to
turn the attention of all England to the splendor and riches of
the coast of Maine.